Chain mechanism for connecting pump rods with walking beams



C. R. ATHY Aug. 20, 1940.

CHAIN MECHANISM FOR CONNECTINGEUMF RODS WIITH WALKING BEAMSz'sheets-sneet 1 Original Filed Nov. 9, 1956 Aug. 2o, 1940. c. R. ATH#2,211,965

CHAIN MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING PUMP RODS WITH WALKING BEAMS originalFiled Nov. 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheer 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1940 Unir-Eostares CHAIN DIECHANISM FOR CONNECTING PUMP RODS WITH WALKING BEAMSClifford R. Athy, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to International- StaceyCorporation, Columbus,

Ohio, a corporation of Ollio Original application November 9, 1936,SerialgNo.

109,852. Divided and this application November 22, 1937, Serial No.175,948

Claims.

This invention relates generally to well pumping mechanism and hasparticular reference to Walking beams and appliances suspended therefromfor producing straight line motion of associated pumpingmeans.

It is a well known expedient in the art of well pumping to provide apivotally mounted oscillatory Walking beam wherein the outer or well endthereof is provided with a cable attaching head having an extendedarcuate surface, the latter registering in all operating positions ofthe beam with the vertical plane of the pump rod, the said arcuatesurface having secured thereto a iiexible attaching cable for unitingthe beam head with the pump rod, the'arrangement providing for thecorrect straight line motion of the pump rod irrespective of theoscillating motion of the associated Walking beam.

in prior devices of this type, however, it has been customary to employstranded wire cables for effecting the 'suspension oi the pump rods fromthe arcuate surface of the beam head. Continued use of such cables underthe heavy tensile strains and loads which they are called upon to carryand repeated'exing thereof, often results in the breaking or parting ofthe cables with attendant delays and difficulties in making repairs.

It is the purpose of the pres-ent invention, therefore, to provide auimproved flexible connecting means for uniting the .beam head with thepump rods, or other similar suspendedtools, wherein the connectioncomprises a plurality oi rollertype chains which have their links joinedso that 5 the chain will be freely ilexiblc in vertical planes passingthrough the arcuate face of the beam head but relatively inflexible inplanes transverse thereto, the said chain connections providing greatermechanical strength rand longer life for use in the capacity set forththan the stranded wire cables heretofore utilized.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of improvedmeans for connecting the upper ends of the chain members with thearcuate surface of the walking beam head, the connection providing ahigh degree of mechanical strength, together with ease of application inthe positive securing of the chains to the beam head.

This application constitutes a division of my prior application, SerialNo. l09,852, filed November 9, 1935.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 5 Fig.l is a side elevation of walking beam and disclosing the application ofthe chain hangers comprising the present invention to the pumping headthereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sec- 60r tional View takenthrough the pumping head of (Cl. M -103) the walking beam and disclosingthe chain hangers; v

Fig. 3 is a iront elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View on the line IV-IV of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View through the upper portion of thepumping head on the plane indicated by the line VV ci 1vfig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken throughthe hanger used to connect the lower ends of the supporting chains andthe upper portion of the polish rod, the plane of the section beingindicated by the line VL-VI oi Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View ou the plane indicated by the lineVII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on thc plane indicated bythe line VI'iI-VII of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to' the drawings, the numeral l .designatesa walking beam, the latter being pivotally mounted intermediate itsends, as at 2, upon the upper end of a Samson traine 3, the latterrising from a base ll. Mounted on the base #l is an engine 5, which isemploy-ed to rotate one' or' more cranks the lat ter being connectedbyone or more pitman members 'l with the inn-er portion of the beam i.The extreme inner end ofthe beam I may be provided with counterbalancingWeights of the type indicated at Pivotally mounted as at 9 on theforward or outer end of the walking beam is an arcuate pumping head itwhich is formed from a plurality of sheet and cast steel members weldedor otherwise united to compose an integral unit. In this instance, thehead includes an arcuate outer surface ii, the center or axis of whichis the pivotal mounting 2 of the beam. Arranged for engagement with thesurface H is a pair of roller-type flat link chains I2, these chainsbeing of the type involving articulated side links united by transversepins containing surrounding bushings and/or rollers, the links of thechain being indicated at I3, the bushings or rollers at I4 and theuniting pins between adjoining pairs of links at I5.

It will be seen that a chain of this type is freely flexible and willreadily conform to the arcuate surface Il of the head l0 during theoscillation of the beam l. Moreover, there no undue stress o1' strain onthe chain in any of the working positions of the head. The forces upperend of the head by the provision of anV anchor block I6. This block is`formed of cast til .Il therein.

steel or other suitable alloy and is positioned at the upper end of thepumping head between the spaced side plates I l thereof to which it iswelded as at I8.

the openings thereof upwardly directed as illustrated in Fig. 4. Thesehook lugs each receive one of the transverse pins and bushings l5 and I4respectively. At the sides of the upper hook of each set and spacedtherefrom are outwardly directed lugs 20, the same each being provided,in registration with the centers of the hooks, with a perforation. Theside plates of the upper links of the chains are positioned in thespaces between the lugs 2B and the hook lugs I9 with the bushings in theopening of the hooks. Extra long pins Ilia are then passed .through theperforated lugs 20, the side plates i3 and the bushings l5, one of theends of the pins ld being headed and the other ends being provided withan opening to receive a cotter pin 2i to prevent the undesired removalof the pins and the release of the chain. This construction provides forthe secure retention of the upper ends of the chains in connection withthe pumping head and the proper lateral spacing of the sup portingchains.

At the lower depending ends of the supporting chains, there is provideda polish rod hanger 22. This member comprises a cast metallic body 23provided with an open sided slot 23a for the reception of the polish rod24. At its upper end, the body 23 is provided with spaced lugs 25 eachhaving a horizontally extending bore formed The spacing of the lugs Z5is the same as that of the hook lugs provided on the block IB in orderthat the chains will remain parallel throughout their entire length. Thebottom side links of the chain are arranged on either side of the lugs25 with the perforation in registration with the bored holes in saidlugs. The lowermost pins I5 extend through the aligned openings tosecure the chains to the hanger body.

The polish rod is removably held in connection with the hanger byproviding the latter with a pair of opposed recesses 25 adjacent theouter edge of the slot 23d. A T-shaped hanger shoe 2'! is supported atthe sides in the recesses 26 and the inner face thereof is inclinedslightly from the top toward the polish rod. A bolt 28 extending throughan opening in the shoe 21 retains a clamp key 29 in proper position inconnection with the shoe. A clamp wedge 3B is disposed between the key29 and the polish rod 2d, the surf face of the wedge in engagement withthe rod 24 being grooved to t the same. The shoe 27 is also providedwith a plurality of clamp screws 3l, the inner ends of which engage thekey and force the same against the wedge 35, the latter being therebyforced into clamping engagement with the polish rod. The inclination ofthe outer face of the Wedge and the shoe 2l causes the former to beforced into still rmer engagement with the polish rod upon any downwardmovement of the latter with respect to the hanger.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa strong flexible chain construction for uniting pump rods and the likewith the outer end of an oscillatory walking beam. The constructioninvolves all required factors of mechanical strength and manufacturingand installation economy and simplicity. The chains possess unusuallylong life and freedom from mechanical disorder, requiring but a minimumof The front face of the block I6 is pro-pM vided with spaced sets ofhook lugs I9 having attention to maintain the same in full workingorder.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well pumping mechanism of the type having a walking beam with anarcuate head,

an outwardly and upwardly directed hook provided at the upper end of thearcuate face of said head, a perforated lug provided in spacedhorizontal registration with said hook at each side thereof, a rollertype chain disposed in engagement with the arcuate face of said head, aroller of said chain being positioned in the opening of said hook, aside link of said chain being positioned in the spaces between the sidesof said hook and said lugs, and a pin extending through the perforationsin said lugs, the side links of said chain and a longitudinal opening inthe roller positioned in said hook.

2. In well pumping mechanism of the type having a walking beam with anarcuate head, a plurality of transversely spaced outwardly and upwardlydirected hooks provided near the upper end of the arcuate face of saidhead, a perforated lug provided in spaced horizontal registration witheach hook at each side thereof, a plurality of roller type chainsdisposed in engagement with the arcuate face of said head, a roller ofeach chain being positioned in an opening in one of said hooks, sidelinks of said chain being positioned in the spaces betwen the sides ofsaid hooks and said lugs, and pins extending through the perfor-ationsin said lugs, the side links of said chains and longitudinal openings inthe rollers disposed in said hooks.

3. In well pumping mechanism of the type having a walking beam with anarcuate surfaced head, a polish rod in vertical registration with thehead and a polish rod grip provided with a plurality of transverselyspaced lugs, connecting means uniting said polish rod and head, saidconnecting means comprising a plurality of transversely spaced outwardlyand upwardly directed hook members provided on said head, the spacingbetween said hook members being substantially equal to the spacingbetween the lugs on said polish rod grip, a plurality of roller typechains secured at their lower ends to the lugs on said rod grip, certainrollers adjacent the upper ends of said chains being disposed in saidhooks, and means for positively securing said chains to said headadjacent said hooks.

4. In well pumping mechanism of the type having a walking beam with anarcuate surfaced head, means for securing chain elements to said headcomprising an anchor block rigidly carried by said head, a plurality oftransversely spaced outwardly and upwardly directed hook members formedon said anchor block, and a perforated lug projecting from said block ateither side of each hook member and spaced therefrom, the perforationsin said lugs being in registration with the openings of said hooks.

5. In well pumping mechanism of the type having a walking beam with anarcuate surfaced head, means for securing chain elements to said headcomprising an anchor block rigidly carried by said head, a plurality oftransversely spaced groups of longitudinally spaced hook members formedvon said anchor block, and a perforated lug projecting from said block ateither side of each hook member and spaced therefrom, the perforationsin the lugs on opposite sides of each hook being in registration.

CLIFFORD R. ATHY.

